Chimney cleaner



' w. P. HUNECKE l CHIMNEY CLEANER May .'20, 1930.

V Filed Sept. 23, 1927 VVGH'eP P. urnecke YPatented May 20, 1930 VIJNIi'ED STATES PATENT OFFICE WALTER-P. HUNECKE, 0F FRONTEVNAC, MINNESOTA CHIMNEY CLEANER Application filed September 23, 1927. Serial No. `221.531. Y

An object of the invention resides in pro-v viding a spindle formed at one end with an eye and threaded at its other end` and to mount upon said spindle a plurality of scraper plates, and a plurality of spacers for holding the scraper plates in spaced relation upon the spindle.

Another object of the invention resides in applying a nut upon the threaded end of said spindle for holding said Scrapers and spacers assembled upon the spindle and in further employing a lock nut on the end oi said spindle externally threaded to receive a suitable handle. Y

A feature of the invention resides in torming said scraper plates with openings therethrough permitting the same to be lassembled upon said spindle, said openings being of a size sutlicient to permit ot lateral adjustment ot said Scrapers to cause the same to t various sizes of iues.

A still further feature of the invention re V sides in providing interlocking means upon said spacers for holding the spacers in alignment with Vone another when the scraper plates are being adjusted relative thereto.

In the drawings: Y Fig..1is a perspective View of a device illustrating an embodimentof my invention with the scraper plates adjusted for use within a flue of minimum dimensions.

chimney cleaner illustrated in Fig. 1 showing a portion of the same out away to illustrate the construction of thesame with the scraper plates adusted for use in a chimney Hue of larger dimensions. v Y

Fig. 3 is a plan sectional View taken on line 3 3 of ig. 2. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional -view taken onv line 4-4 of Fig. In residences and similar buildings where Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of theV wood'or certain grades of soft coal are burned,v considerable VVsmoke and soot is Y formed which readily collects within the chimney flue' and fills up the chimney so as to obstruct the proper drat and frequently causes chimney lires. My invention provides a simple and effective device whereby the chimney may be easily and eii'ectively cleaned without the employment of complicated apparatus and which may be handled by a person not having had experience or skill in such matters.

rlhe invention proper consists of a plurality o1' scraper plates 10, 117 12 and 13, which are Y preferably rectangular in form andare of such dimensions as to fit loosely within a chimney flue of minimum dimensions. These plates are formed with rectangular openings `14 as illustrated in F ig.` 3 and are adapted to be mounted upon the spindle 15 formed of a rod or other suitable material. Y This spindle is constructed with an eye 16 at one end and is threaded at its other end asV indicated at 17 to receive' anut 18. The scraper plates 10 are held in positionv upon said spindle 15 by means of two end plates 19 and 20 and a plu- Y rality yoitspacers 21 disposed between the spective plates. These spacers are constructed with flanged portions 22 and 23 connected by a vneck 24 which is drilled to receive the spindle 15. The iflanges, 22 and 23 are of dimensions proportional to the dimensions of the scraper plates proper and are the same size as the end plates 19 and 20.l ,When the nut 18 is tightened upon the threaded end 17 of spindle 15 the said nut is caused to bind upon the end plato 2O which draws the eye 16 'on said spindle against `the end plate 19 holding all of the scraper plates 10,11, 12 and 13 rigidly mounted between said end plates 19- and 20; and the variousspacers 21. g f To prevent thejvarious spacers 21 from rotating upon the spindle 15 when the nut 18 is loosened thesaid .spacers Iare ormedwith interlocking'meafns bestA illustrated in Figs. 2 3`and Ll. The upper end 25 of the neck 24 ot each of thespacers 21 isconstructedwith a 'notch or depression 26 which eXtends'com which are adapted to fit into the notches 26 of the adjacent spacers so as to hold the spacers from rotation relative to one another when mounted upon the spindle. By means of this construction the nut 18 may be loosened to permitof adjustment of the plates without the entire device becoming entirely disarranged and without necessitating laborious effort in assembling the same in proper relation.

Due to the relative dimensions of the rectangulai openings 14 of the various plates 10, 11, 12 and 13 the said plates may be adjusted from the position shown in Fig. 1 to those shown in Fig. 3 representing the eXtreme disposition of the scraper plates relative to the spindle 15. It can readily be comprehended that the scraper plates may be moved in either direction or the same may be moved in both directions as illustrated in Fig. 3. To give a maximum transverse adjustment the end portions 25 and 27 of the necks 9A oi' spacers 21 are cut away as indicated at 29.

Although I have shown but four scraper plates in the drawing, yet it can be readily comprehended that any number of scraper plates may be employed. lith four or more plates, some of the plates may be disposed in all four corners of the chimney so that all foin corners may be scraped at one time.

In using the device for ordinary uses a rope may be attached to the eye 16 and the scraper raised and lowered within the flue. Through such action the edges of the scraper s plates 10, 11, 1:2 and 13 engage the walls of the flue and loosen and scrape o the deposit of soot and other encrustations formed thereon. lt will be noted that where four or more plates are used that the entire inner surface of the flue is simultaneously scraped so that the chimney may be cleaned with one application of the device.

lVhere the enerustaton is particularly hard the weight of the cleaner is frequently 'insufficient to cause the same to descend within the chimney. In such cases l employ a rigid handle which is attached to the spindle proper. For this purpose a lock nut 30 is employed which is screwed upon the end 17 of spindle 15 and is seated against the nut 18. This lock nut is externally threaded at 31 to screw into a pipe coupling adapted to be attached to the end of a pipe which may serve as a handle for manipulating the cleaner. If desired, a T head such as now in common use may be attached to the handle to facilitate the use of the same. With this construction the scraper may be forced against the walls of the flue so as to completely remove the hardened encrustation formed thereon. By rotating the handle ninety degrees upon the threads 31 pressure may be applied to either side of the cleaner through the action oi' the T head upon the end of the handle.

Changes in the speeiiic form of my invention, as herein disclosed, may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A chimney cleaner comprising a spindie, a plurality of Scrapers mounted upon said spindle, a plurality of spacers disposed upon said spindle between said serapers for holding said scrapers in spaced relation, said spacers having notches at one end thereof and lugs at the other ends thereof for engagement with the notches of adjacent spacers, said scrapers having openings through which said lugs and spindle extend and being clamped between said spacers, means for holding said Scrapers and spacers mounted upon said spindle, and attaching means secured to said spindle.

2. A chimney cleaner comprising a spindle, a plurality oit Scrapers mounted upon said spindle, said scrapers being formed with cutting edges and having openings therethrough of dimensions larger than said spindie to permit of adjustment of said scrapers with respect to said spindle so as to vary the distance from said cutting edges to said spindle, and means for holding said Scrapers assembled upon said spindle. v

3. A chimney cleaning device comprising a spindle, a plurality of Scrapers mounted upon said spindle, a plurality ot spacers disposed upon said spindle between said scrapers, said spacers having interlocking means adjacent said spindle and clamping means outwardly therefrom adapted to engage said Scrapers, said scrapers having openings therethrough to receive the interlocking means of said spacers.

4t. A chimney cleaning device comprising a spindle, a plurality of Scrapers mounted upon said spindle, a plurality ot spacers dis-1- posed upon said spindle between said scrapers, means disposed between the respective spacers for interlocking the same to form a unitary structure. said spindle being rotatable relative to said unitary structure.

In testimony whereof I have ailixed my signature to this specification.

VALTER l?. HUNECKE.

JLU 

